International Energy Agency Points the Way to a Clean Energy Future

November 15, 2006

The energy future our world is facing today, based on projections of
current trends, is "dirty, insecure, and expensive," according to
Claude Mandil, executive director of the International Energy Agency
(IEA). The IEA's "World Energy Outlook 2006" makes that clear in its
reference scenario, which shows global energy demand increasing
53 percent by 2030, while global carbon dioxide emissions increase by
55 percent. But the IEA is actually optimistic, pointing out that key
government policies and measures could easily put the world on a
sustainable energy path. The IEA's "alternative policy scenario,"
which includes these policies and measures, reduces global energy
demand by 10 percent by 2030, causing global carbon dioxide emissions
to drop by 16 percent. In developed countries, oil imports and carbon
dioxide emissions peak in 2015 and then begin to fall. According to
the IEA, improved energy efficiency could yield most of the energy
savings, combined with a greater use of renewable energy and nuclear
power. "The good news," says Mr. Mandil, "is that these policies are
very cost-effective." See the
IEA press release.

Two other recent reports confirm the IEA's positive outlook. "American
Energy: The Renewable Path to Energy Security," released in September
by the Worldwatch Institute and the Center for American Progress,
argues that policies to encourage renewable energy and energy
efficiency could gradually transform the U.S. energy system. Likewise,
a Rand Corporation study released on November 13th finds that by 2025,
renewable resources could provide 25 percent of the electricity and
motor fuels used in the United States. The study concludes that such a
shift could occur at little or no additional cost, assuming that
fossil fuel prices remain high and renewable energy technologies
continue their historic downward cost trend. See the
Worldwatch Institute press release,
the full "American Energy" report
(PDF 3 MB),
the Rand press release,
and the Rand report
(PDF 633 KB).
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